Occupy Birmingham site shut down, protesters decide not to resist

Allyn Hudson speaks at an Occupy Birmingham rally in October 2011. (The Birmingham News file)

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The City of Birmingham has dismantled the "People's Corner" set up in downtown Birmingham by Occupy Birmingham and protesters agreed to peacefully disperse, ending the longest-running "Occupy" protest in the world, said one of the organizers, Allyn Hudson.

"It was something that was bound to happen," Hudson said Friday, the morning after Birmingham police announced the city was shutting down the Occupy Birmingham site at the corners of Fifth Avenue North and 20th Street that had been there since Nov. 2. "We were shocked we were able to stay as long as we did and operate unharassed."

The city had no immediate comment.

After learning a city crew was on its way to take down the makeshift tents at the site, Occupy Birmingham's general assembly -- members from whom consensus is required before taking action -- decided not to resist the city's move and not force police officers to physically remove them, Hudson said.

As people protesting the so-called "1 percent" of society with the economic and political power, Occupy Birmingham members considered police officers fellow members of the remaining "99 percent," Hudson said.

"There is no need to protest union workers," he said, referring to the police officers. "We decided the police and the city of Birmingham have been very gracious and accommodating. We didn't want to give them trouble."

But shutting down the People's Corner doesn't mean Occupy Birmingham will go away, Hudson said. Members are working on plans for the Sept. 17 anniversary of the original "occupy" movement, Occupy Wall Street, which originally set up in Liberty Square in Manhattan's Financial District. The movement spread to more than 1,500 cities worldwide.

"We will be back on the site at 20th and Fifth with spontaneous marches," Hudson said.

Occupy Birmingham had up to 250 protesters at its peak in November, and settled down to a core of about 40 people earlier this year. At least one person has been on site at the People's Corner since Nov. 2, Hudson said.

For more information about Occupy Birmingham and the Sept. 17 action, follow Hudson on Twitter, allyn_hudson, or sign up for email alerts at wearethe99percent.birmingham@gmail.com.